Pressure breathing regulator



March 13, 1951 B. B. HOLMES 2,544,991

PRESSURE BREATHING REGULATOR I Filed Nov. 8, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1'Wi'gdl I I. I

INVENTOR BHHDFUHD 5. HULNES' BY WM.

ATTO R N EY Patented Mar. 13, 1951 PRESSURE BREATHING REGULATOR BradfordB. Holmes, New York, N. Y., assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation,Teterboro, N. J a corporation of Delaware Application November 8, 1945,Serial No. 627,375

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a pressure breathing regulator, andmore particularly to an oxygen breathing regulator to be used byparachutists, or during emergencies when regular breathing or pressureapparatus fails in high altitude planes.

An object of my present invention is to provide an oxygen breathingregulator for use with a small high pressure oxygen flask and a mask.

A further object of this invention is to provide an oxygen breathingregulator in which a respiration actuated diaphragm will operate atoggle mechanism to open and close an inlet valve to supply a flow ofoxygen to a mask.

Another object of my invention is to provide an 7 oxygen breathingregulator in which a pressure responsive member actuated by the ambientatmospheric pressure will coact with a respiration actuated diaphragm toopen the inlet valve to pp y oxygen to the mask.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an oxygenbreathing regulator of the character described with means for holdingthe inlet valve closed when the regulator i not in use, said means beingreleased by a rip cord to permit operation of the regulator.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an oxygen breathingregulator of the character described with a removable sealing cap and acheck valve whereby the oxygen supply of the small oxygen flask may bereplenished from larger oxygen storage facilities.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a highly improvedoxygen breathing regulator which shall be small in size, light inweight; which may be worn comfortably by a parachutist in jumps fromgreat altitudes, or worn as a walkaround regulator by crew membersinhigh altitude planes, or by passengers in pressurized cabin planesduring emergencies.

Other objects of this invention will in part be away to show a featureof construction, other portions of which are shown in elevation,

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional reversed view taken along line 33 ofFigure 2, portionsof which are in elevation, showing the respirationactuated diaphragm and valve mechanism, and the aneroid for controllingthe diaphragm, while.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of Figure 2,showing the expanded aneroid acting upon the respiration actuateddiaphragm.

Referring now in detail to-the drawings, l .designates a regulatorembodying the invention. The regulator l0 comprises a cylindrical bodyll having arcuate side walls l2 and a bottom wall l3; an inlet and gaugesection M to which is threaded an oxygen flask (not shown), fixed tosaid body by screws 1 5and a gasket I 6 an outlet port I! threaded intosaid body diametrically opposite the section [4 over which is slipped ahose line connected to a mask (not shown) and a vented cover l8 providedwith openings .19, snapped over the body I l and fixed thereto as byscrews 20.

Fixed within the cylindrical body H in a suitable manner is a bracket 2|provided with three aligned openings 22, 23 and 24, opening 23 beingthreaded and formed with a shoulder 25. Re-

ceived within openings 22 and 24 are ,two parallel guide rods 26 and 21,the ends of which are threaded into the'section I4.

Fixed to the arcuate side walls l2 of said body is a membrane ordiaphragm 28 forming a chamber 29 within said body. Membrane 28 isprovided with a rigid support plate 30. Fixed'to said plate as by ascrew 3| and nuts 32 isa spring seat 33 and a depending link 34. Pivotedto the end of said link as by pin 35-is an I-shaped black 36 (Fi ure 4)having an enlar ed opening 31.

Received within the opening 31 of block36 are two rods 38 and 39. Rod 38is formed at one end with an enlar ed bearing section 40 to receive oneend of rod 39. 7 Section 40 is approximately a sphere having a diameterequal to the diameter of opening 31. The other end of rod 38 is conicalin shape, and rests in a valve seat M provided in section I4. Rod end 45will hereinafter bereferred to as valve 45. The rod 39 is provided witha conical pivot 42 resting in the bearing surface provided by section40, and a-"spherical bearing surface 43 abutting a bearing cap 44threaded into the opening 23 of bracket 2!.

It will be apparent, that valve 45 will engage the seat 4| when themembrane 28 is in its normal position as shown in Figure 3; To insure aleak proof seating of the valve 38, the bearing cap 44 may be turned toincrease the pressure of said valve against its seat 4!, properalignment of rod 39 and valve 38 being maintained by the bearing surfaceof cap 44 and shoulder 25 and pivot 42 in bearing 40, the bearing beingheld in place by the block 3.6.

In operation, depression of the membrane 28 will actuate the togglemechanism formed by the block 36 and the rods 38 and 39. Downwardmovement of block 36 will deflect the bearing 40 and the pivot 42 insaid bearing. Beds 38 and 39 will both be deflected, rod 38 unseatingthe valve 45 to permit the oxygen under pressure :to enter the chamber29. The oxygen will then bedrawn out of the chamber through outlet l1into the mask. Upon expiration, the pressure within chamber 29 becomespositive, causing the .rnernbrane 28 to lift. Block 36 will thus bemoved upwer v,. nart.ia11y resea ne the valv 5.

Means ,is now provided to retain block 30 in its no mal position when thr gu at r s t i us Tethis end ther is pr vided a r d 6 slideab yreceived within a boss 14'] provided on the exteriorsurjace of body I I,and within a boss'48 p. 1 vided within the chamber .29. One vend of saidrod is jormedwith a longitudinal slot 49 to increase the frictionalresistance ofiered said rod upon its withdrawal from boss 48. The otherend of said rod is provided-with'a transverse opening 50 adapted toregister with an opening in boss 41. A cotter pin 52 placed withinopenings 50 andfil holds the rod 46 in place. A rip cord .53 is fixed tothe rod 46 bya rivet 54.

'Fastened to a flattened portion of rod 46 by a screw '55 is a detentlie'slideably mounted on the guide rods '26 and 21. The detent 50 isprovided with 'two cam surfaced shoulders 57 (Figure 2) which fitbetween the two pair of shoulders 58 and '59 provided on the 'I-block 36(Figure 4). When the rod 46 is locked in place by cotter pin 52, thedetent 51 will hold the I-block 36 against lateral or transversemovement, holding the valve '45 firmly in seat 4 l Removal of the cotterpin 52 and a firm pull onrip'ccrd53 will slide-rod to the left (Figure2) 'torelease the detent '56.

The inlet and gauge section 14 of said regulator is provided with athrough opening 60 extending inwardly toward the chamber 129, having atits innermost end a reduced here to form the valve seat 1|.Communicating with the opening fiil is a passageway (not shown) topermit the oxygen pressure to actuate the pressure meter (ii. The -meterwill give the oxygen pressure within the oxygen flask (not shown)threaded to said section as at 62; the index mark 163 on the dial ofsaid meter indicating theoperational pressure range. As show-11in FigureLthepointer fl indicateszero pressure.

Means'is provided to connect the regulator l0 and its flask to a sourceof oxygen under pressure to replenish the oxygensupply of said flask.

T tbislend there isp ovided a annular member fixthreaded'int member 14the a l 5 or sa d body registerin with the inlet openin =59- The member65 is iurtherprev ed with. a shoulder 6! forming two valve seats .68andiil. .Pressed against the valveseat 09. as by spring 10,is a valve Jladapted to close 011 the .opening 66.. A cap 12 isprovided for themember 65 threaded thereto and forming a pressure seal 3 01' saidmemberby virtue of the valve 73 formed integral therewith on its interiorsurface. Valve ulator, the cap 12 is unscrewed and an oxygen supply lineis screwed onto the member 65 in its place. The pressure of the supplyline will unseat the valve 1| against the action of the sprin 70. Oxygenwill thus be supplied to the flask through openings 66 and 60. Sincevalve 45 is closed, the pressure registered by the meter ill willindicate the pressure within the flask.

When the pressure within the flask has been brought up to operationallevel as indicated by pointer 64 and index 63, the supply line isdisconnected. The pressure within the oxygen flask and :the spring 10will close valve ll to prevent any-leakage. The-.cap 12 is then screwedin place W'Ithtvalve 334m seat 68 to form a second seal against leakage.

Means is now provided to deflect the membrane '28 to open the valve 45and to hold the same wide open at high altitudes.

To this end there is affixed to the underside of the vented cover 18, asby screws 115, an aneroid '16 whose top wall 11 is fixed to said cover,and

whose bottom wall 18 is movable upon expansion thereof. The bottom wall18 is provided with a well 19, and a second smaller diameter well withinthe well 19.

Fixed within the inner well 0.0 is a light coil compression spring 81.,he lower end of which abuts the spring seat 33 fixed to the membraneplate .30. Placed withinthe outer well and spaced about-spring 0! is asecond :coil compression Spring 82, said second spring being-strongerthan said first spring. The lower end of spring '82 abuts against theplate 3.0 on the 'membrane 28. Fixed within aneroid l5 and placed aboutthe well 7.9, ls'a coil extension spring 83, one end of which abutsagainst the top wall 17, the other end against the bottom wall 18.Spring 83 aids in the expansion of the aneroid upon the lowering of theambient pressure. The aneroid 15 is subjected'to the ambient pressurethrough the vents I9 to cover l8.

Inoperation, the small spring 8| maintains at all times .a smallpositive pressure on the diaphragm 28 of about one :inch of waterpartially opening the valve. 'The aneroid 16 will expand upon increasein altitude due to the decrease in ambient pressure. At about 35,000feet the expansion of the aneroid will increase the pressure of spring82 on membrane to depress the same. Block 38 will be lowered'further toopen the valve 45. From 35,000 feet to 50,000 feet the 'aneroid willcontinue to expand until the bottom wall 78 of the aneroid abuts againstthe diaphragm plate 30 (Figure 4). Spring 82, and spring 8!, will becompletely compressed to exert the greatest pressure on the membrane 28.The working pressure exerted on the membrane builds up from one inch to12 inches of water. Thus at greater altitudes where oxygen is neededmost, the deflection of the membrane 20 by the aneroid will cause thevalve 45 to remain wide open. Upon descent, the aneroid will contractpartially closing the valve again; expiration of the user partiallyclosing the valve, Nosuction. is re uired'of the user to open the valve,the small pressure exerted by spring 8 I willhold the valve partiallyopen.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a pressure breathingregulator ,in which the sev eral objects of this invention are achieved,and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of pra ti al us i Asvarious possibl embodiments might be made of the above invention, and asvarious changes might be made in the embodiment set forth above, it willbe understood that all matter herein set forth, or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in alimiting sense. I

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. Emergency respiratory apparatus for use with a breathing mask and aflask containing a respiratory gas under pressure comprising, a casing,a pressure responsive membrane forming one side of said casing, an inletfor said casing having means for amxing thereto a flask and an outletfor said casing having means for affixing thereto a hoseline connectedto a breathing mask; a valve seat formed within said inlet, a togglemechanism within said casing actuated by said membrane, one end of saidmechanism being the valve for said valve seat whereby said inlet isclosed and opened upon actuation by said membrane, a detent for saidtoggle mechanism to hold said inlet closed, a rip-cord for said detentfor releasing said toggle mechanism, a pressure responsive memberactuated by the ambient pressure coacting with said membrane to opensaid inlet upon a reduction in ambient pressure. a pressure gaugecooperating with said inlet for indicating the pressure within the flaskaflixed thereto, a member fixed to said inlet having an annulusregistering with said inlet, a check valve within said annulus wherebythe gas supply of the aflixed flask may be replenished, said check valvepreventing pressure leakage through said annulus, and a sealing cap forthe last said member to further seal said annulus against leakage.

2. Emergency respiratory apparatus for use with a breathing mask and aflask containing a respiratory gas under pressure comprising, a casing,a pressure responsive membrane forming one side of said casing, an inletfor said casing having means for aflixing thereto a flask and an outletfor said casing having means for afiixing thereto a hoseline connectedto a breathing mask; a valve seat formed within said inlet, a togglemechanism within said casing actuated by said membrane, one end of saidmechanism being the valve for said valve seat whereby said inlet isclosed and opened upon actuation by said membrane, a detent for saidtoggle mechanism to hold said inlet closed, means for moving said detentfor releasing said toggle mechanism, a pressure responsive memberactuated by the ambient pressure coacting with said membrane to opensaid inlet upon a reduction in ambient pressure, a member fixed to saidinlet having an annulus registering with said inlet, a check valvewithin said annulus whereby the gas supply Of the affixed flask may bereplenished, said check valve preventing pressure leakage through saidannulus, and a sealing cap for the last said member to further seal saidannulus against leakage.

3. Emergency respiratory apparatus for use with a breathing mask and aflask containing a respiratory gas under pressure comprising, a casing,a pressure responsive membrane forming one side of said casing, an inletfor said casing having means for afiixing thereto a flask and an outletfor said casing having means for affixing thereto a hoseline connectedto a breathing mask; a valve seat formed within said inlet, a togglemechanism within said casing actuated by said membrane, one end of saidmechanism being the.

valve for said valve seat whereby said inlet is closed and opened uponactuation by said membrane, a pressure responsive member actuated by theambient pressure coacting with-said membrane to open said inlet upon areduction in amthrough said annulus.

4. Emergency respiratory apparatus for use with a breathing mask and aflask containing a respiratory gas under pressure comprising, a casing,a pressure responsive membrane forming one side of said casing, an inletfor said casing having means for aflixing thereto a flask and an outletfor said casing having means for afflxing thereto a hoseline connectedto a breathing mask; a valve in said inlet, means actuated by saidmembrane for opening and closing said valve, a detent for holding saidvalve closed, means for releasing said detent to permit opening of saidvalve, a pressure responsive member actuated by the ambient pressurecoacting with said membrane to open said valve upon a reduction inambient pressure, a member fixed to said inlet having an annulusregistering with said inlet, a check valve within said annulus wherebythe gas supply of the affixed flask may be replenished, said check valvepreventing pressure leakage through said annulus, and a sealing cap forthe last said member to further seal said annulus against leakage.

5. Emergency respiratory apparatus for use with a breathing mask and aflask containing a respiratory gas under pressure comprising, a casing,a pressure responsive membrane forming one side of said casing, an inletfor said casing having means for affixing thereto a flask and an outletfor said casing having means for affixing thereto a hoseline connectedto a breathing mask; a valve in said inlet, means actuated by saidmembrane for opening and closing said valve, a pressure responsivemember actuated by the ambient pressure coacting with said membrane toopen said valve upon a reduction in ambient pressure, a member fixed tosaid inlet having an annulus comprising a pair of valve seatsregistering with said inlet, and a check valve within said annulus forone of said seats whereby the gas supply of the aflixed flask may bereplenished, and a cap containing valve means for the other seat, saidcheck valve and cap preventing pressure leakage through said annulus.

6. Respiratory apparatus comprising, a casing having an inlet and anoutlet; a valve in said inlet, a toggle mechanism'forming a part of saidvalve, pressure responsive means to actuate said toggle mechanism foropening and closing said valve, a detent for holding said valve closed,means for releasing said detent to permit opening of said valve, anda'pressure responsive member subject to ambient pressure coacting withsaid pressure responsive means for applying an increasing pressure onsaid pressure responsive means with a decrease in ambient pressure toincrease the opening of said valve.

7. Respiratory apparatus comprising a casing having a membrane mountedtherein and actuated by respiratory pressure, and forming a firstpressure responsive member, a wall member actuated by ambient pressuredefining a second pressure responsive member, resilient means actingbetween said first and second members to maintain a small positivepressure on said first member, and a second resilient means brought into"action by movement of said wall member past a predetermined position toeoact with said first resilient means :for increasing the positivepressure on said first member with a. decrease in ambient pressure.

BRADFORD B. HOLMES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 1119 bfthis patent:

Number 8 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Gourdou 11-1-1-1 June '7, 1927SW'ope et a1 Mar. 8, 1932 Sutton -1 Sept. 12, 1-933 McMiHin Dec. 3,1-940 Sinnett Dec. 30, 194-1 Fox 1-1 May '22, 1945 Heidbrink Aug. 28,1945 Meidenbauer Sept.'3,-1946

